The ACT Government issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on 27 January 2012 to support the development of up to 40 megawatts of large-scale solar generation capacity in the ACT. The RFP was issued in relation to the competitive process (the Solar Auction) determined in the Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) FiT Capacity Release Determination 2012 (No 1).

The closing date for the lodgement of bids for pre-qualification in the Solar Auction was 10 April 2012. 49 proposals were received by the Solar Auction Secretariat, with 27 of these nominating for the fast-track stream of the assessment process.

The closing dates for Stage 2 final proposals were 20 June 2012 for the fast-track stream and 16 April 2013 for the regular stream. 10 proposals were received by the Secretariat in the fast-track stream and 15 in the regular stream

Stage 2 Fast-track Stream Outcome

On 5 September 2012, the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development announced that FRV Royalla Solar Farm Pty Limited had been successful in the fast-track stream of the Solar Auction and would be awarded a grant of FiT entitlement for their 20 megawatt proposal to be located at Royalla in the ACT. Unsuccessful fast-track stream proponents were able to resubmit a final proposal in the Stage 2 regular stream of the Solar Auction. Media Release 5 September 2012.

Stage 2 Regular Stream

The outcome of the regular stream is expected to be announced in mid-2013. Media Release 19 April 2013

Related Documents

• Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) Act 2011
• Electricity Feed-in (Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation) FiT Capacity Release Determination 2012 (No.1)

Solar Auction Interested Parties

Details of organisations and persons wishing to facilitate the networking of parties interested in the Solar Auction process can be located on the Solar Auction Interested Parties page. 

Solar Auction Advisory Panel

In March 2012 a Solar Auction Advisory Panel was appointed by the Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development. The Panel is responsible for overseeing the Solar Auction assessment process and making recommendations to the Minister, initially for those proposals considered eligible for prequalification and subsequently for the awarding of a feed-in tariff entitlement.

The Panel members are:

• Ross Bunyon (Chair), currently Non-Executive Chairman of Turner and Townsend (Australia), My Homepower Pty Ltd and a Member of the Federal Government Energy Security Council. Past roles include Chairmanships at Railcorp, Pacific Power, Pacific Power (International) Pty Ltd, Electricity Supply Association of Australia and Eraring Energy. He was also a member of the World Energy Council Executive Assembly.
• Michael Sargent, currently a Director of the Australian Energy Market Operator. Past positions include Chief Executive of Transfield Pty Ltd, Chief Executive Officer of ACTEW Corporation Ltd, Chief Engineer of SEQEB and membership of the National Grid Management Council.
• Michael Dureau, currently Deputy Chairman of The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering, Chairman of the National Fuels and Energy Committee of Engineers Australia and an Adjunct Professor of Engineering at Sydney University. Past positions include Managing Director of ALSTOM Power, Chairman of Technical Committee of Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Chairman of RedR Australia and President of Australian Water Association.
• Bruce Godfrey, currently a Principal Consultant for Wyld Group and Chair of the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Solar Institute Limited. Past positions include Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited, General Manager and Managing Director for the Energy and Research and Development Corporation.
• Abrie Swanepoel, currently Director Economics Branch of the ACT Treasury Directorate. Former roles include Senior Manager of the Macroeconomic Analysis Unit at the ACT Treasury Directorate and Economist with the International Economy Unit at the South African Reserve Bank.

Background

With the release of the first tranche of capacity under the Act, industry has had an opportunity to compete for the establishment of up to 40MW of solar generation from large-scale facilities (minimum 2MW generating system capacity) located in the ACT.

The Auction will:

• significantly contribute to the Territory’s greenhouse gas abatement targets, reducing the ACT’s emissions by 1,120,000 tonnes over 20 years;
• leverage economies of scale and location, provide financial security for developers and  reduce solar energy costs; and
• enhance the clean energy industry in the ACT.

Contact details

Email: SolarAuction@act.gov.au